Donovan used a two-handed shove to gain control of the ball and
set up the tying goal, and the Galaxy went on to beat FC Dallas,
2-1, at Home Depot Center on Sunday night. FC Dallas lost
consecutive games for the first time this season.

FC Dallas' playoff fate thus is set as Real Salt Lake will visit
Pizza Hut Park at 4 p.m. Saturday in the first game of a two-game
series. The Galaxy will play the Seattle Sounders.

"It's difficult to play against that," David Ferreira said of
the non-call. "Someone judged that play and had to decide whether
it was a foul or not and he didn't feel that it was, the play
continued and they tied it. But everyone on the field felt that was
a foul."

Ferreira, who like Donovan is a candidate for league Most
Valuable Player, said the lack of a whistle in the match was not
the reason the Galaxy won.

"We're not crying over that play," Ferreira said. "We lost the
game. They deserved it, and we can't diminish what they did on the
field. They got a just result, an important victory for them."

FC Dallas scored first in the 22nd minute on a splendid play
from Eric Alexander. Galaxy defender Sean Franklin turned the ball
over deep in the Galaxy's third. On the left flank, Alexander
pounced on the loose ball and swung a cross to the far post. As
Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts dived to his left, Atiba Harris
struck a header to Ricketts' right, and Dallas opened the
scoring.

Match official Mark Geiger was slow to blow the whistle and let
the teams bang their bodies around some, and that came back to bite
the visitors. On a Galaxy counter, FC Dallas' Jackson Goncalves
raced towards the end line to shield the ball but Donovan shoved
Goncalves from behind.

Donovan was alone on the left side of the box. He fed David
Beckham outside of the area, and Beckham ripped a shot past Dario
Sala.

The Galaxy took the lead early in the second half as Juninho
ripped a shot from near the top of the penalty area.

To post a comment, log into your chosen social network and then add your comment below. Your comments are subject to our Terms of Service and the privacy policy and terms of service of your social network. If you do not want to comment with a social network, please consider writing a letter to the editor.